Wire connecter



L.H.CHURCH WIRE CONNECTER Jan.11,1938.

Filed oct. 2e, 1934 SYSheets-Sheet l NAME J N.

FV/////////////////////////W INVENTOR LEWIS H. CHURCH yim L. H. CHURCH WIRE CONNECTER Jan. 11, 193s.

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INVENTOR LEWIS H. CHURCH ATT'oR Ys oFFlc-E WIRE CONNECTER -Lwisn ohurch,.westne1a, N. J.; asignor to I- The Thomas & Betts Co., Elizabeth, N. J., a

corporation` of New Jersey Application 'october 26, 1934, serial No.75o,0sv

4 claims. (ci. 17e- 303) l The invention relates to a wire connecter which is adapted to be secured to a Wire and particularly to secure the end of a wire to some other struc.

turejor to secure the ends of two wires in order to couple them together. 'I'he invention has particular applicability to hollow high tension wire built up of segmental interlocking strips. Such high tension wires vmay have a diameter between 'one and two inches and --be stretched b Ween towers quite widely spaced so that the con ecter is subjected to a heavy strain in supporting a considerable weight of. cable or wire.

Sometimes the weight of the cable or wire is increased by the formation of ice thereupon in the winter, and a connecter must be able to withstand this added strain caused by the increased weight-supported thereby. Such connecters, in addition to withstanding the heavy strains to which they are subjected, must also be capable of withstanding thisstrain irrespective ofthe effect of varying temperature changes which mayl expand the partsl of the connecter unevenly and may tend to unloosen them. In other words; the connecter must not become unloosened, which might occur due to different coeliicients of expansion .and contraction of the plished with a minimum number of parts for the connecter.

VAnother lmain object is tol devise a wire connecterl which will aid in keeping the connecter` tightly gripping the wire and also retighten the :ame by the pull on the wire in case it should become Aunloosened, and which wire connecter does not carry any operating means for initially tightening the connecter. In this construction a hammer or` separate means may be used to pro` duce initial tightening of the connecter, or it may be produced by the-pull exerted by the wire when two connecters are fastened or coupled t0- gether. I'

Another fundamental object is to devise a wire connecter in which one ofthe parts thereof eX` tends beyond the end of the internal conical surface provided upon one' o fthe parts of the wire clamping means andy engages or contacts the wire "in order to reduce yor dampen vibration of the 'adapted to couple thejends of two wires together, and having the contractile'sleeve extending be- .Y yond the internal conical surface and the wire and to prevent scoring of the wire by the end of the contractile sleeve.v l

Another object is to extend particularly the contractile sleeve so that it projects beyond the end of the internal conical surface of the clamp- 5 ing means and also projects beyond the end of a plug, if one is provided, in order to dampen vibration of the wire and particularly to prevent scoring of the wire by the end of the contractile sleeve.

Another broad object of the invention is to construct a wire connecter having a retightening characteristic and in which .the initial tightening of the connecter is augmented by the pull of the wires as two connecters areV drawn towards 15 each other in coupling vthe ends of two wires together.

The broad objects ofthe invention have been 'l outlined above and other objects can be stated .which comprise various combinations of lthe '2o principal objects set forth. Such other objects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description and claims taken in con- Vnection with the accompanying drawings illustrating some preferred embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is `an exploded view of one form of wire connecter in which no initial operating means is provided on the, connecter in order to initially grip the wire, and the parts of the connecter are shown in section.` l

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the 'as-v sembled wire connecter of Figure 1 with the end of a hollow high tension wire-secured therein.

'Figure 3 is an end view of the assembled connecter shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is Va longitudinal section of a wire connecter similar to that'sho'wn in Figurev 2, but' which differs therefrom in having the contractile clamping sleeve .projecting beyond the end of the supporting part.

. Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4. Figure 6 is an exploded view ofa wire connecter the connecter of end of the plug. Figure 7 is an assembled longitudinal section of the wire connecter of Figure 6 after the connecter has been initially contracted on the wire.`

Figure' is a longitudinal section showing the` wire connecter of Figure '7 after it has been retightened by a pull on the wire. Y

Figure 9 shows an enlarged end view of the segments forming the hollow wire.

Figure is la longitudinal section through Wire connecter`-which is initially tightened by an Y external means or bythe pull ofthe Wire when two connecters are drawn together, in order to provide a coupling for the 'ends'j of two wires. The two wire connecters are shown preparatory to drawing th`em together by a coupling member or means. i

Figure 11 is a longitudinal section through the wire connecter of Figure 10 with the two connecters drawn completely into "the coupler member during which process the connecters have be# come initially contracted.

The wire connecter to be described herein is devised to provide as'simple a" structure as posclosed" hereinafter.

` the contractile sleeve.

sible for securing, the ends of high tension wire to some other structure or to the end of another l wire. The connecter, even though of simple construction, will support the heavy strain to which it will be subjected in 'service and has the characteristic of retightening itself in case it should become unloosened for any reason, such as uneven expansion or contraction of different parts thereof brought about by' varying temperatures to which the connecter is subjected. 1

The connecter shown in exploded view in Figure 1 consists of a means I0 having an internal taper or conical surface Il. vThe means I0 carries screw threads I2, shown particularly on the exterior thereof, the purpose of which will be dis- The means I0 may` also carry at portions or a hexagonal portion I3 to4 enable the means to held with a wrench. A contractile sleeve or means I5 has an external taper orY conical surface I6 corresponding with the internal conical surface ,II of the means I0. The sleevel I5 is rendered contractile by a longitudinal slot H extending through the length of the sleeve contractile may be used. The bore I8 of the contractile sleeve I5 is preferably provided with biting ridges or teeth I9 which are heaviest and deepest at the thick end of the sleeve and gradually taper off to a smooth surface at the smaller end of the sleeve. Preferably too the bore I8 is slightly smaller in diameter at the thicker end so that the inner end of the connecter carries afgreater part of the clamping action on the wire than the thinner 'end of the sleeve.

A plug 22 Ywhich is shown as being hollow, although a solid plug may be utilized, has aldiameter approximately that of the hole through the hollow wire W so that it is insertable therein. The plug carries an outwardly extending flange 23 preferably at the end thereof. The purpose of the flange will bedescribed hereinafter. The other end of the plug carries a taper 24 which aids in inserting this plug within the hollow high tension wire. The plug 22 may alsobe provided with biting ridges or teeth 25 which are both more numerous andgreater adjacent the ange 23 and taper off gradually towards the tapered end 24 of the plug. y

A securing lug 28 is provided with internal threads 29 for engagement with the threads I2 on the connecter means I0. Any other means may be usedto secure the lug 28 to the internal conical surface means I0. The securing luge-carries a at extension 30 having an opening 3l therein for receiving a bolt or other anchorage means by which the connecter is secured to some supporting structure.

In assembling the connecter described, the

Other means of rendering wire and the interlocking connection between the then inserted Within the tend of the wire until the flange 22 engages the end of the contractile sleeve I5. The end of the plug may then be struck with a hammer in order to drlve the plug and contractile sleeve into the means I0 so that the cooperating conical surfaces II and I6 on the means I0 and the contractile sleeve I5 forcibly contract the sleeve to grip the wire between the sleeve and the plug.: Any other means separate fromand independentl of the connecter may be utilized to enforce this laxial movement'between the contractile sleeve I5 and the means I0, whereby the tapers or conical surfaces cooperate to contract the contractile sleeve I5 and initially 4grip the wire. The lug 28 is then threaded upon the threads I2 of the means IU to provide means for securing the connecter and the Wire to some other structure. Y

The contractile sleeve 5 is positioned upon the Wirefso that the small end thereof is spaced from the end of the wire and the large end thereof is adjacent to the end of the wire. The contractile sleeve therefore is in a retightening position as willappear more,` fully hereinafter. When the contractile sleeve I5 is contracted, the Wire W, which has a certain degree of flexibility, is contracted slightly therewith so that the Wire-W, the contractile sleeve, and the plug 22 are clamped together as a unit through this clamping action. The biting ridges or teeth I9-in the bore I8 of the contractile sleeve I5 and the biting teeth 25 on the external surface of the plug 22 dig into the Wire and firmly fix or' anchor the contractile sleeve and the plug I5 to the wire so that these three parts move together by the pull on the wire in case the connecter should become unloosened due to changing temperatures, whereupon the contractile sleeve I5 lis pulled axially with respect to the internal conical surface II to retighten the connecter. Y

The retightening characteristic or feature of the connecter is principally obtained by the flange 23 carried bythe plug or plug means 22. The

flange abuts the end of the contractile sleeve I5. -The plug 22 is freely movable with the wire W in order to retighten the connecter if it should become unloosened. If unloosening should occur and the wire tends to pull out of the connecter, the plug 22 moves with the wire W and the flange 23 engaging the end of the contractile sleeve I5 forces the contractile sleeve axially with respect to the means I0 and the internal conical surface II thereon to assure positive retightening of the connecter. The ange 23 therefore is one of the means cooperating between the plug 22 and the contractile sleeve I5 for 'retightening the connecter.

The flange 23, particularly shown as being carried by the plug 22, provides means carried by the plug which engages a shoulder 38 formed by cooperating between the plug 22 and the contractile sleeve I5 to retighten the connecter by the pull on the cable in case it should become unloosened. In the construction shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, a hammer or other external and separate initial tightening meansV is utilized in order to initially' secure the end of the wire W withinthe connecter, andthe connecter is provided with a second operating means for retightening the connecter by the pull on the Wire in case it should become unloosened when in use. The second operating means cooperates with the `contractile sleeve to force the Ylatter axially Within the means I0. In other words,

the connecter described is capable of being retightenedby the pull on the wire in case it'be comes unloosened and consists of only three essential parts, namely a means having an internal conical surface which means Ais adapted to be secured to some other lstructure, a contractile sleeve positioned upon the Wire, vas shown. and

' described, and a plug insertable within the wire and having means cooperating with the vcontractile sleeve to retighten the' connecter by the pull on the wire. The means I0 is shown asextending substantially beyond the endof the contractile sleeve l5 and the end of the plug 22,.y which extension engages the Wire W. This.ex

tension of the` connecter means l tends to prevent vertical oscillation of the Wire and also resists abrasion at the end of the contractile sleeve '35 which carries an internal taper 36. A contractile sleeve 31 is adapted to fitvv over the wire'.`

' W with its smaller end spaced from the end of the vvire and its larger end adjacent to Athe end of the Wire, so that it is in a position to be retightened by the pull on the wire in case' it should become unlcoseed. The construction of Figure 4 differs from that of Figures 1 and 2 in the contractile sleeve 31 projecting beyond the endof the means 35 and engaging the wire W at a` point beyond the end of the internal conical surface 36, instead of `having the means 35 perfqrm this function. The -v means ,35 in Figure 4 is consequently shorter than the corresponding means I0 of Figure 2.

` The projecting end of the contractile sleeve 31 h .provides a flexible end therefor which is unsupported by any exterior part. The swaying of the Wire Wis tended to be dampened bythe projecting end` of 'the contractile sleeve,y and also the contractile sleeve provides no rigid or rigidly supported corner to score the .wire when it viybrates or 'swa'ys and'thereby eventually produce a weakened wire. rllhe end of the projecting contractile vsleeve extends to asubstantiaHy sharp edge so that this end is not rigid, but has a certain degree of exibility. fThe connecters of Figy ures 1 through 4 show therefore that one of the parts of the connecter extends beyond the end o'f the internal .conical surface and engagesrthe wire to prevent scoring ofthe wire by the contractile sleeve and to v,tend to prevent vibrations or the undesirable efec'ts of vibrations ofthe Wire W.

The plug 22 of Figures 1 and 2 may be inserted into the Wire W, which plug may be provided with', the flange 23. The flange 23 provides means ca l ried by the plug whichv engages an axial shoulder.

38 formed by the end of the contractile sleeve for retightening the contractile sleeve inv case it should become unloosened. It will be noted `too,

that the contractile sleeve 31 projects beyond the end of. the plug 22 and' projects Well beyond the point )where the tapered end of the plug begins,

.which is the innermost point of thewire which contacts With the plug, so that the flexibility` of` the end of the contractile sleeve is not affected either by the plug 22or the means 35.

Although the construction shown inv Figure "lV shows the use of a plug 22 inserted lwithin the end of the Wire, which plug carries al flange, it will be understood that the combination disclosed in this view may be utilized on solid wires and may be utilized on hollow wires without the use of.

a plug. The improvement fundamentally lies in one of the parts, and particularly the contractile sleevei31, projecting beyond the internal conical surface to prevent scoring of the Wire W.

Figures 6 throughs show a wire connecter constructed muchl like the connecter shown in the Buchanan applicationV 6882560'. This connecter has a body member 42 having an internal' bore 43 and internal screw threads 44 at the end ofthe body memben An outer expansible sleeve 46k having an internal conical surface 41 is insertedy Within the bore 43 of the body member 41..V The expansible sleeve 46 has a slot 48 to render this sleeve expansible. 'An inner contractile sleeve' 56 the internal conical surface 41 on the outer exy pansible sleeve 46. The contractile sleeve 50 has a bore 52 Within which a2 hollow Wire W is received so that the contractile sleeve fits over the end of the Wire W; The contractile sleeve 50 has a longitudinal slot 53 which renders the sleeve contractile. 1

An operating means or nut v55- has external screw threads 56' which cooperatewith the iny ternal threads 44 on thebody member 42. The

operating nut engages the'largeend of the outer expansiblesleeve 46 and forces it into the bodyv member so that the conical surfaces lon the sleeves 46 and 50 forcibly .engage tocontract the con-t tractlle sleeve 50 and expand the expansible sleeve 46.

It will be observed thatthe operatingy nut 55,

"the expansible sleeve`46 and the body member 42 are combined into a/n integral orY one piece element in the construction shown; in Figures 1 'through 4 and in Figures 10 and 11.. These three parts in the form of construction shown iny Figures 6 through 8, therefore, together form means having an internalrconical surface.. Be-

cause this means in. Figures 6 through 8 also in-v -has an outer conical surface 5| cwhich engages cludes the operatingnut 55, as lwell as the expansible sleeve 46, this construction provides Ameans carried by the connecter'whichis capable of another function, namely the function of in. itially contracting the contractile' sleeve 50 by causing'relative movement to occur between the internal conical surface 41 and the contractile sleeve 50. Any initial operating means whatever is contemplated by the invention which has the function of producing relative movement between -an internal conical surface, such Vas the surface, and the contractile sleeve v50. Such operating means may or may not"be carried by the connecter. j'

The operating nut 55 is preferab with a bore 51`so that the wire has ample room to vibrate therein and so; that the flexible end of the contractile sleeve 50 is unsupported, beyond' the end of the internal conical surface A1." The 'operating nut 55 may engage the wire W, as de.

scribed in the Buchanan Patent 2,056,248yso long ly providedl as it does not support the free end of the contractile sleeve 50.

'I'he expansible sleeve 46 `upon being forced into the body member 42 expands as the` contractile sleeve D contracts, so that Lthe expansible sleeve expands into firm engagement with the bore 43 of the body member 42. This rm engagement between these two parts assures better electrical contact through the connecter and also assists in resisting the pull of the wire so that the Weight of the wire is not-carried entirely by the screw threads of the operating nut 55. The expansible sleeve need not be expan'sible, if it is not desired to take advantage of the additional function provided by it being expansible.

A plug or plug means 60 has a tapered end 6| to facilitate the insertion of the plug within the hollow wire. The plug 60 also has a flange 62 which engages an axial shoulder 54 spaced from the smaller end of the contractile sleeve and formed by the larger end thereof. The flange provides means carried by the plug 60 for retightening the connecter in case it should become unloosened by the pull of the wire.l This with the wire, whereupon the contractile sleeve .v

, ever, the means B5 has right-'hand screw threads 66, whereas the other means has left-,hand screw threads 1I. The coupler means 'I4 has in` ternal right-hand threads and vinternal lefthand threads I6 to receive, respectively, the right-hand threads 66 on the means 65 and the left-hand threads 1I on the means 10. Upon rotating the coupler means 14, the means 65 and 10 and hence the wire connectors of which thelr are a part, are drawn towards `each other `ad-in so beingfdrawn towards each other, the pull on the wire will initially tighten the 'contractile means 31 so that no other initial operating means may be necessary. In order to assure, however, that the wire is initially secured therein with a sufficient-degree of security, each contractile sleeve 31'may`be initially contracted by hitting the head or flange 23 of each plug 22 with necter to some other structure, which is also the purpose of the lug 30, shown in the construction in Figures 1 through 4. 'I'he biting ridges or teeth I9 and 25 shown on plug 22 and contractile sleeve I5 may be likewise provided onl the same parts in the other forms illustrated.

It has been found also that by making the bore l 52 of thecontractile sleeve 5l) slightly tapered,

for tapering the bore 52 of the contractile sleeveA is to so construct the sleeve that a smaller proportion'of the total clamping strain on the wire is carried at the small vend of the contractile sleeve Where excessive strains are more likely to fracturethe wire.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the configuration, composition and disposition of ythe component elements going to make up the invention as a whole, as well as in the selective combination or application of the respective elements, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying .drawings.

What is claimed is:

1.,A wire connecter comprising means having an internal .conical surface, a contractile sleevel adapted to fit over the wire and having an exterior conical surface engaging the internal conical surface, the contractile sleeve having its smaller end spaced ,from the end of the wire and its larger end adjacent to the end of the wire,

the contractile sleeve having a flexible end ex- 'tending substantially outwardly and engaging the wire beyond the vend of the internal conical surface toprovide a yieldablesupport for the Wire where it enters the connecter, an operating nut carried by the aforesaid means fon initially contractingr said contractilefsleeve to grip the wire by enforcing relative movement between the` contractile sleeve and the internal conical surface, and the operating nut extendingl outwardly byond the contractile sleeve and adapted toen--` gage the wire.

2. A wireconnecter frhollow Wire comprising means having an internal conical surface, a

contractile sleeve adapted to fit over the wire and having an exterior conical surface engaging the internal conical surface, the contractile sleeve having its smaller end spaced from the end of the Wire and its larger end adjacent to the end of the wire, plug means insertable within theA Wire, means `carried bythe plug means and cooperating with the contractile sleeve to retighten therconnecter in case it should become unloosened, the contractile sleeve having a flexible end extending outwardly and engaging the wire beyondthe end of the internal conical surface and the\end of the plug means wherey it engages the inner surface of the wire to provide a yieldable support for the wire where it enters the connecter, an operating nut to initially contract said contractile sleeve to grip the wirevby enforcing relative movement between the contractile sleeve and the internal conical surface, and the operating nut. extending outwardly beyond the contractile sleeve and plug means and adapted to -engage the ,wire to further protect the Wire against scoring.

-3. A self-tightening wire/connecter for connecting the end of a hollow wire comprising a connecter sleeve havingan internal conical surface the smaller diameter of which is spaced from and the larger diameter of which is located adjacent to the end of the wire, the connecter sleeve having an open front end through which the wire is adapted to be projected and an open rear end, a contractile sleeve adapted to t over the Wire and having an external conical surface engaging the inner conical surface of the connecter sleeve with its smaller end spaced from and its larger end located adjacent to the end of the wire, a plug insertable within the end vof the wire, means carried by the plug and the contractile sleeve cooperating together to move the latter axially relatively to the connecter sleeve when an external force is applied at the large diameter end of the contractile sleeve through the open rear end of the connecter sleeve for initially tightening the said contractile sleeve against the wire and plug and also for retightening the contractile sleeve by the pull on the wire, and means on said connecter sleeve for securing the latter to some other structure.

4. A self-tightening Wire connecter for connecting the end of a hollow wirel comprising a connecter sleeve having an internal conical surlface the smaller diameter of which is spaced from and the larger diameter of which is located adjacent tothe end of the Wire, the connecter sleeve having an open front end through which the wire is adapted to be projected and an open rear end, a contractile sleeve adapted to t over the wire and having an external conical surface engaging the inner conical surface of the connecter sleeve with its smaller end spaced from and its larger end located adjacent to the end of the wire, aplug insertable Within the end of the wire, means carried by the plug and the contractile sleeve cooperating together to move the latter axially relatively to the connecter sleeve when an external force is applied at the large diameter end of the contractile sleeve through the open rear end of the connecter sleeve for initially tightening the said contractile sleeve against the Wire and plug and also for retightening the contractile sleeve by the pull on the Wire, means on said connecter sleeve for securing the latter to some other structure, and means operating through the open rear end of the connecter sleeve to initially force the contractile sleeve relatively to the connecter sleeve to initially tighten the wire connecter.

LEWIS H. CHURCH. 

